SEKHUKHUNE SOUTH

GRADE 8

ENGLISH HOME LANGUAGE

CONTROLLED TEST

EXAMPLAR PAPER

MARKS: 60
TIME: 2 HOURS

This question paper consists of three (3) pages.

INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION

1. This paper consists out of FOUR Questions:

Question 1: Comprehension (20)

Question 2: Summary (10)

Question 3: Visual Text (10)

Question 4: Language in Context (20)

2. Answer all the questions.

3. Begin the answer to each QUESTION on a new page.

4. Leave a line open between answers.

5. Write very legibly and neatly.

QUESTION 1: COMPREHENSION

Read the text below and answer the questions in FULL SENTENCES unless
otherwise specified.

Paragraph 1

Albert Einstein was one of the greatest minds in

world history. Einstein is known as a brilliant physicist
who contributed more to the scientific world than any
other person. His ideas about relativity are the basis
for how science now understands time, space,
energy, and gravity.

Paragraph 2

Einstein was brilliant in his thinking and far in front of

anyone living at his time. Einstein, like most brilliant minds, was also a very
strange and different kind of person. He often liked to work away from people
and family but he also spoke in public about issues that he believed in. He was a
person who cared about other human beings but his work also led to one of the
most destructive forces ever known to man, the atomic bomb.

Paragraph 3

Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879 in Germany. His parents were
Pauline and Hermann Einstein. In his early years, was a very shy but curious
child who did not seem to be good at anything. In primary school, Albert was
such an under-achiever in all subjects other than Maths and Science that his
parents suspected that he might be mentally handicapped. One teacher even
told him that he would never amount to anything. As it turned out, Albert
preferred to learn on his own and had taught himself advanced Mathematics and
Science by the time he was a teenager.
 Paragraph 4

It was only in his adult life that he achieved greatness and fame. Einstein’s
work was interrupted by World War I. A lifelong pacifist, he opposed
Germany’s entry into war. He would write, “At such a time as this, one
realizes what a sorry species of animal we are.”

Paragraph 5

During World War 2, a Nazi organization published a magazine with

Einstein’s picture and the words “Not Yet Hanged” on the cover. There was
even a price on his head. The threat was so great that Einstein split with his
pacifist friends. He said that it was justified to defend yourself with weapons
against Nazi aggression. To Einstein, peace was not an absolute concept but
one that had to be re-examined depending on the size of the threat.
Paragraph 6
Up to his final days, this genius continued his search for laws that would
explain more of the universe. To this day, his ideas and theories are still
treated with respect. It is important for all young people to know about
Einstein: he did not achieve while he was at school, and people thought he
was stupid and useless, but he was a great man. All young people need to
realise that they can achieve in their lives; they simply might not achieve
greatness early. If they do not achieve at school, they will find what they
are really interested in and become successful later in their lives.

[Adapted from www.google .com]

1.1 Refer to paragraph 1

(a) In what field of work was Einstein famous for? (1)

(b) Einstein was a genius. TRUE or FALSE? Support your answer. (2)
(c) Give the synonym of the word ‘brilliant’. (1)
(d) Einstein’s ideas laid a basis for the understanding of several scientific concepts.
Name any TWO of them. (2)

1.2 Refer to paragraph 2

(a) Quote the word in the paragraph that means behaving in an usual manner.
(1)
(b) Mention any ONE character trait that describes Einstein. (1)

(c) Why is Einstein associated with the destructive forces? (1)

1.3 Refer to paragraph 3

(a) Why is the following statement FALSE? (1)

Einstein was born in England.
(b) Why did his parents suspect that he was mentally – handicapped? (1)
(c) A teenager is someone who is …………

A. good at Mathematics.
B. between the ages of 13 years and 19 years. (1)
C. between the ages of 5 years and 10 years.
D. attending primary school.

1.4 Refer to paragraph 4.

(a) Einstein only became an important person during his adulthood. Name TWO
things to support this statement. (2)
(b) What disturbed Einstein’s work? (1)

1.5 Refer to paragraph 5

(a) Quote a statement from the paragraph that indicates that the Nazi organisation
wanted Einstein dead. (1)
(b) Explain the following phrase “There was even a price on his head” (2)

1.6 What lesson can we learn about Einstein’s life from childhood until adulthood?
(2)

SUB – TOTAL = [20]

QUESTION 2 : SUMMARY
You have been asked to speak to learners about how they should get rid of
plastic items.

Read the passage below and list SEVEN points you will include in your talk.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. List the SEVEN points in full sentences.

2. Use your own words as far as possible.
3. Number the sentences from 1 to 7.
4. Write each sentence on a new line.
5. Your seven-point summary should be NO MORE THAN 60 WORDS.
6. Indicate the TOTAL NUMBER OF WORDS you have used in brackets at the end
of your summary.

PLASTIC IS KILLING OUR PLANET –

HERE'S HOW WE CAN CHANGE THINGS

Do you know that every single piece of plastic that has ever been created
since the 1800s is still somewhere on our planet? So what can we do to rid
the planet of plastic?

If you want people to know how dangerous plastic is for the environment,
you need to talk about it to family and friends, people in the community and
even government officials. You can also write to the producers of your
favourite brand to use biodegradable packaging. When you want to buy
toys for a small child, buy a toy that is made of wood, fabric or cardboard,
which will not harm the environment.

Instead of buying processed vegetables, rather go for fresh vegetables,

which you can buy from the local grocer. Although drinking water from a
plastic bottle is very popular these days, a healthier and safer option will be
to refill your water each time using a glass bottle.

The next time you go to your favourite supermarket, ask the packer to show
you the biodegradable sign on the plastic bag so that you can help save the
environment. Save up enough money so you can buy a bag made of fabric
in which to pack your groceries when shopping at a store next time.
Remember, the effects of plastic will be felt for years to come. So, take
action.
[Adapted from The Green Times, 31 July 2017]

[10]
QUESTION 3 : VISUAL TEXT
Study the advertisement below and answer the set questions.

3.1.1 What is being advertised in the visual above? (1)

3.1.2 Who is the target market for this product? (1)
3.1.3 Correct the errors (mistakes) of punctuation in the following statements :
“Its hard to spel when your hungry”
(a) Its > ----------------------------------- (1)
(b) Spel > ------------------------------ (1)
(c) Your > ----------------------------- (1)
3.1.4 In which social media platform can we find information about this product? (1)
3.1.5 Mention any ingredient used in making this product. (1)
3.1.6 How do we know that this product can serve as a meal? (1)
3.1.7 Why did the advertiser include this statement “ ITS HARD TO SPEL WHEN
YOUR HUNGRY” ? (2)

SUB –TOTAL = [10]

QUESTION 4 : LANGUAGE STRUCTURES AND CONVENTIONS
Read the text that follows and then answer the questions below.

Dr. Congo-man
by Inessa Rajah
1 I don’t know the car guard’s name. All I know is the bright smiling
face, the
strong hands that help my mother with her shopping bags and the
kind
manner in which he bends to greet Bobby. I do not know his name
because I
have never asked what it is. Bobby has, but the man did not
understand.
2 He always accept the change my mother hands him with a sincere
“Merci”.
3 Once, my cousin, who speaks French, had a conversation with him. I
asked
her about it. He was a doctor in his country. His country is in turmoil,
he was
forced to flee his home, and he is a qualified doctor working as a car
guard.
Bobby started calling him Dr. Congo-man.
4 Turning on the television is depressing, watching streets lined with
violence
and rage. “Foreigners are stealing our jobs,” a young man shouts.
Refugees
are shot in the streets. They escaped to our country to run from chaos
and
pain, but instead found themselves running in a circle, directly back
to
injustice.
5 I am suddenly aware of the stillness beside me. “Bobby?” I whirl my
head
from side to side. “Bobby?” I’m on the verge of screaming for help,
when I see
him sitting on the ledge of the car park, his smile so big it slides off
the sides
of his face. The kind, Congolese man is standing beside him.
6 I catch sight of the laceration on the man’s arm. The wound looks like
a burn.
look into his eyes and see the eyes of a man cheated by life, more
times than
fate should allow.

5.1 What is the function of the comma in line 1? [1]

5.2 Correct the errors of concord in the following sentence.

He always accept the change my mother hand him. [2]

Write the corrected words only.

5.3 Why is the word ‘Merci’ (line 5) written in italics? [1]

5.4 Refer to paragraph 3. Rewrite the following sentence in

REPORTED speech : He was a doctor in his country.
Begin your answer with: She said .. [2]

5.5 Refer to paragraph 3. Is Dr. punctuated correctly? Give a

reason for your answer. [1]

5.6 Refer to paragraph 4. Write the following sentences as

question tags. Write the answers only.
(a) Foreigners are stealing our job, ___________? [1]
(b) The man did not understand, _____________? [1]

5.7 Refer to paragraph 4. Rewrite this sentence in bold in

the Active Voice : Refugees are shot in the street.
[2]
Begin your answer with: They …

5.8 Refer to the underlined sentence in paragraph 3.

He was a doctor in his country.
Identify the parts of each of the highlighted words.

(a) He > -------

(b) a > ------- (4)

(c) doctor > ---------

(d) In > -------------

5.9 Rewrite the following sentences in the Present Tense

(a) He was a doctor in his country. [1]
(b) The man did not understand. [1]

5.10 Rewrite the following sentences in the Negative Form.

(a) I’m on the verge of screaming. [1]
(b) They found themselves running in a circle. [1]

5.11 Give a reason for the use of the apostrophe in paragraph 6.[1]

SUB –TOTAL = [20]

GRAND – TOTAL = [60]